OUTLINES OF BOTANY. 
XI 
a "Raceme, or racemose , when the flowers are borne on pedicels along a single un- 
divided axis or rhachis. 
a Panicle , or paniculate , when the axis is divided into branches bearing two or 
more flowers. 
a Head , or capitate , when several sessile or nearly sessile flowers are collected 
into a compact head-like cluster. The short, flat, convex or conical axis on which the 
flowers are seated, is called the receptacle, a term also used for the torus of a single 
flower (135). The very compact flower-heads of Composites are often termed compound, 
flowers. 
an Umbel, or umbellate, when several branches or pedicels appear to start from 
the same point and are nearly of the same length. It differs from the head, like the 
raceme from the spike, in that the flowers are not sessile. An umbel is said to be 
simple, when each of its branches or rays bears a single flower ; compound, when each 
ray bears a partial umbel or umbellule. 
a Corymb, or corymbose, when the branches and pedicels, although starting from 
different points, all attain the same level, the lower ones being much longer than the 
upper. It is a flat-topped or fastigiate panicle. 
a Cyme, or cymose, when branched and centrifugal. It is a centrifugal panicle, 
and is often corymbose. The central flower opens first. The lateral branches succes- 
sively developed are usually forked or opposite (dichotomous or trichotomous), but 
sometimes after the first forking the branches are no longer divided, but produce a 
succession of pedicels on their upper side forming apparently unilateral centripetal 
racemes ; whereas if attentively examined, it will be found that each pedicel is at first 
terminal, but becomes lateral by the development of one outer branch only, immedi- 
ately under the pedicel. Such branches, when in bud, are generally rolled back at the 
top, like the tail of a scorpion, and are thence called scorpioid. 
a Thyrsus, or thyrsoid , when cymes, usually opposite, are arranged in a narrow 
pyramidal panicle. 
75. There are numerous cases where inflorescences are intermediate between some 
two of the above, and are called by different botanists by one or the other name, 
according as they are guided by apparent or by theoretical similarity. A spike-like 
panicle, where the axis is divided into very short branches forming a cylindrical 
compact inflorescence, is called sometimes a spike, sometimes a panicle. If the 
flowers are in distinct clusters along a simple axis, the inflorescence is described as an 
interrupted spike or raceme, according as the flowers are nearly sessile or distinctly 
pedicellate ; although when closely examined the flowers will be found to be inserted 
not on the main axis, but on a very short branch, thus, strictly speaking, constituting 
a panicle. 
76. The catlcins ( amenta ) of Amentacece, the spadices of several Monocotyledons, 
the ears and spi/celets of Grasses are forms of the spike. 
77. Bracts are generally placed singly under each branch of the inflorescence, and 
under each pedicel ; bracteoles are usually two, one on each side, on the pedicel or 
close under the flower, or even upon the calyx itself ; but bracts are also frequently 
scattered along the branches without axillary pedicels ; and When the differences 
between the bracts and bracteoles are trifling or immaterial, they are usually all called 
bracts. 
78. When three bracts appear to proceed from the same point, they will, on exami- 
nation, be found to be really either one bract and two stipules, or one bract with two 
bracteoles in its axil. When two bracts appear to proceed from the same point, they 
will usually be found to be the stipules of an undeveloped bract, unless the branches 
of the inflorescence are opposite, when the bracts will of course be opposite also. 
79. When several bracts are collected in a whorl, or are so close together as to appear 
whorled, or 'are closely imbricated round the'hase of a head or umbel, they are collec- 
tively called an Livoldcre. The bracts composing an involucre are described under the 
names of leaves, leaflets, bracts, or Scales, according to their appearance. Phyllaries 
is a useless term, lately introduced for the bracts or scales of the involucre of Com- 
positce. An Involitcel is the involucre of a partial umbel. 
80. When several very small bracts are placed round the base of a calyx or of an 
